9 U.S., Aussie Divers Still Held by Indonesians

American officials have so far been unsuccessful in attempts to free six Californians--four from the Southland--who have been accused by Indonesian authorities of chartering an Indonesian vessel without proper permits and then sailing into restricted waters near the east coast of Sumatra.

“The Indonesians say they were in waters under Indonesian jurisdiction while the Americans say they were in international waters,” Joseph Yun, an American vice-consul stationed on Sumatra, said in a telephone interview Sunday.

No formal charges have been filed against the six Americans and three Australians who also were aboard, but an investigation is continuing, he said.

Outlook Is Unclear

“There’s no way we can predict” when they might be released, he added.

The nine apparently were on a scuba diving vacation and had chartered the Indonesian vessel “Budi Indah” out of Singapore. According to Yun, they had been sailing in a narrow strait between Singapore and the Indonesian island of Riau, and were about 25 miles out to sea when the ship was boarded Tuesday by Indonesian officials.

Yun, who visited the detainees Friday and Saturday, said the ship is docked at the Indonesian port of Tanjung Pinang on the island of Bintan, about 50 miles southeast of Singapore, off the east coast of Sumatra.

“They’re in good health,” Yun said.

The four Southern Californians aboard the Budi Indah are Cliff Craft, 43, of Whittier; Pat Gibson, 47, of Van Nuys; Danny Commerford, 38, of Orange, and Jim Vorus of Santa Monica. Two Northern Californians aboard the ship are twin brothers Bob and Bruce Lanham, 33, of Pleasant Hill.